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At an early age, George Blume’s father gave him some advice: If you want your community to be a better place, then YOU work to make it better. It’s wisdom that has guided George all his life.

It’s what led him to 27 years as a volunteer firefighter. And 26 years as an Emergency Medical Technician. Not only that, George still found time to be a librarian for 17 years, a band camp instructor for 16 years, and a band director for 29 years.

“My satisfaction comes from being able to give back to the communities where I have lived,” George said.

George began his career in education as a librarian in the Kansas City, Kansas School District after 29 years as a band director.

“I always feel that to be able to teach students to love music, help them learn how to find and use information, and encourage them to grow themselves into better people pretty well sums up my career,” George said.

George’s love of music led to another love in his life — his wife.

“I have a wonderful wife. We have been joyfully married for 48 years and some people who know us refer to us as ‘joined at the hip.’ We met through music in 1967 and still play our instruments in the Bonner Springs summer band concerts.”

Together they are the proud parents of two daughters and grandparents to two boys.

It is this support system that helped George overcome the biggest challenges in his life: battling cancer and undergoing open heart surgery.

“I was just fortunate to have the most wonderful support system possible from my doctors, my wife, my kids, my fellow teachers and my church.”

Through it all, George says, he has truly enjoyed living his life.

“All of those factors make me feel quite fortunate to have the life I’ve lived and be able to continue working and enjoy living.”

Currently, George is in his first year with MHED, back in the library as a long-term substitute for the Kansas City, Kansas School District where it all started. His latest challenge is helping to put the library together to begin the year.

“Having over half the books still in storage and not having enough shelving when I arrived presented a fun challenge.”

As George continues his career in education, he continues to live the advice his father gave him long ago, doing his best to better the communities he calls home.